FREDERICK, MD (July 29, 2026) — Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick County, in partnership with Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation and the Frederick Keys, hosted the 4th Annual Badges for Baseball Camp at Nymeo Field at Harry Grove Stadium on Thursday, July 16th. About 100 youth from Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick County (BGCFC) attended the all-day camp, which aims to foster leadership and team-building skills, while providing a fun experience for kids to play sports and make new friends. This year’s event was presented by Nymeo Federal Credit Union and Leidos Biomedical Research.
The full-day event featured baseball/softball stations and games for Club youth alongside more than 100 volunteers from local law enforcement agencies, community partners and sponsors, and members of the BGCFC Board of Directors. This event is geared at encouraging positive relationships between law enforcement agencies and the youth members of Boys & Girls Clubs. This event was offered as part of Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick County’s 8-week summer camp program, serving over 130 youth from 8am-6pm Monday-Friday.
Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller also attended this year’s event and gave some inspiring opening remarks to welcome everyone to the 4th annual Badges for Baseball event and reinforce the importance of Boys & Girls Clubs in the communities they serve.
The goal of the Badges for Baseball program is to teach important life lessons to our youth through sports-themed programs which bring together law enforcement officers, youth mentors, and at-risk youth to build positive relationships and trust.
“To all of our sponsors and partners, thank you. Your support makes a difference every single day,” said BGCFC CEO Timika Thrasher. “Because of you, we’re serving more than 130 campers this summer, and 51 of those children are receiving financial assistance so they can be here. That’s the impact you’re making, and we couldn’t do it without you.”
Boys & Girls Club would like to thank the many event sponsors for their generosity: presenting sponsors Nymeo Federal Credit Union and Leidos Biomedical Research; gold sponsors Middletown Valley Bank, Lonza Group, Rice Tire, M&T Bank, Tree Trekkers, and Turner Construction Company; silver sponsors Edgewater Federal Solutions, Frederick Keys, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Ruppert Properties, SERVPRO of Frederick, Delaplaine Foundation, and MinuteMan Press; and bronze sponsors HR Answerbox, Family Heritage Trust Company, and Blue Ridge Risk Partners.
BGCFC also thanks all of the first responders and law enforcement volunteers from Frederick City Police Department, Frederick County Fire & Rescue, Frederick County Sheriff’s Department, Maryland State Police, Maryland Natural Resources Police, the GOCCP P.R.O.T.E.C.T. Coordinator, and the State’s Attorney’s Office of Frederick County; as well as elected officials, its Board of Directors, and all of the staff and volunteers who helped make the day a huge success for Boys & Girls Club youth.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick County is the premier youth development organization in Frederick County, providing children with the highest quality programs and opportunities for success. The mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick County is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick County serves youth from all different backgrounds and demographics, and no child or family is ever turned away based on an inability to pay membership dues. More than half of the youth served annually receive partial or full scholarship.